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Sports

Cooper Jones is one of seven freshmen additions for Braden River this season. The third baseman/catcher leads the team in RBIs and ranks second in batting average, as of March 10.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • March 18, 2026
Freshmen talent takes center stage for Braden River High's softball team

The Pirates were off to a fast start with seven freshmen having an immediate impact.

  • East County
  • Sports
Junior guard/forward Isaiah Jenkins (left) looks for a pass during the FHSAA Class 7A boys basketball state championship between Sarasota and Miami Columbus. The Sailors fell, 53-50, on March 14 at Jacksonville's UNF Arena.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • March 18, 2026
Learning to love transformed Sarasota boys basketball

As corny as it sounds, a culture of care lifted the Sailors to historic heights.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
The Concession Golf Club is hosting the Senior PGA Championship April 16-19.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • March 18, 2026
Final preparations underway for The Concession to host Senior PGA Championship

The Lakewood Ranch golf club has officially begun its one-month countdown to the tournament.

  • East County
  • Sports
Alex Bates of Riverview track and field is a reigning FHSAA regional and district champion for pole vault. Four meets into his senior season, he's already notched a pair of first-place finishes.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • March 17, 2026
Sarasota Athlete of the Week: Alex Bates

The reigning state runner-up in FHSAA Class 4A for pole vault placed first at the Ram Invitational.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Ava DiPasquale is ranked sixth in Florida among girls age 13-14 for the 2025-26 season, as well as 67th nationally in that regard, per Swimcloud.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • March 17, 2026
East County Athlete of the Week: Ava DiPasquale

The 14-year-old from Mill Creek won big at the Florida Age Group Swimming state championships.

  • East County
  • Sports
Sarasota boys basketball coach BJ Ivey embraces Johnny Lackaff. The junior guard had a game-high 27 points March 14 in the FHSAA Class 7A state championship, but it wasn't enough for the Sailors.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • March 14, 2026
Sarasota boys basketball falls by 3 in state championship

An overtime-forcing shot from Johnny Lackaff didn't fall, leaving the Sailors just short of a title.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Johnny Lackaff, in his third season as a starter, has scored as many as 35 points in a game for Sarasota. He's done it twice — first on Nov. 21 against Braden River and again on Jan. 29 against Booker.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • March 13, 2026
Sarasota boys basketball reaches first state title game in program history

The Sailors exploded in the fourth quarter of the state semifinals to advance.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Blake Roulund was a defensive end/middle linebacker for Cardinal Mooney football as a junior. He committed to wrestling full-time for his senior year, forfeiting a chance to be part of a football state championship.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • March 12, 2026
Cardinal Mooney senior succeeds in changing sports

Blake Roulund left football behind and promptly became a state finalist in wrestling.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
The Sarasota Paradise huddle before the second half against AC Boise. The team previously played in USL League Two for the past three seasons and finished first in the South Florida division for 2024 and 2025.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • March 11, 2026
Sarasota Paradise poised to unite soccer community

The professional soccer club plays out of Premier Sports Campus in Lakewood Ranch but should loom large in Sarasota County.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Yvette Brown directs the offense for Booker girls basketball Feb. 27 against DeSoto County in the FHSAA Class 4A-Region 3 championship. The Tornadoes outscored regional competition by an average of 31 points per game, but lost by 33 in the state semifinals.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • March 11, 2026
Another season ends in state semifinals for Booker girls basketball

The Tornadoes again knocked on the door of a state championship berth but, like in years past, ultimately fell short.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
The Sarasota Paradise waited out a nearly two-hour weather delay before commencing their first season in USL League One. Over 2,500 fans packed the stands at Premier Sports Campus.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • March 11, 2026
Sarasota Paradise drop professional debut to AC Boise, 1-0

The Lakewood Ranch-based soccer club played its first match in USL League One.

  • East County
  • Sports
Senior Jaden Morales (top) controls Middleburg junior Nathan Harvey (bottom). The Pirate won their match by decision, 6-4, and ultimately placed sixth at 126 pounds.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • March 10, 2026
Braden River High wrestlers earn five medals at state meet

Jacob Fuentes tops the Pirates with a second-place finish at 144 pounds in 2A action.

  • East County
  • Sports
Gemma Mulhollen boasts a 4-0 record for Sarasota softball through the team's first five games of 2026. As of March 8, the junior has thrown seven times as many strikeouts as earned runs allowed.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • March 10, 2026
Sarasota Athlete of the Week: Gemma Mulhollen

The junior has been dominant in the circle early this season for Sarasota softball.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Leighton Paul holds team-high marks for batting average, runs and hits through the first six games of the Pirates' 2026 season.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • March 9, 2026
East County Athlete of the Week: Leighton Paul

With red-hot hitting, the junior has been an offensive force for Braden River High softball.

  • East County
  • Sports
Coach Ty Bryant cuts down the net Feb. 27 after Booker girls basketball's FHSAA Class 4A-Region 3 championship. The Tornadoes have now reached the state semifinals in four of six seasons under his direction.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • March 5, 2026
Booker girls basketball rallies behind midseason turnaround

The Tornadoes struggled early in 2025-26 but corrected course and are headed to the state semifinals.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
1 2 3 4 5 »
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1
Katherine Ceaser, Lydia Chapdelain and Jessica Armstrong
  • March 22, 2026
Art Center Sarasota brings Beaux Arts Ball back to celebrate centennial
2
Mike and Julie Paige, and Amber and Lenny Larson, pose by an "SRQ Wine" sign.
  • March 22, 2026
Festival pours wines from around the world, all at Selby Five Points Park
3
Sarasota's Tracy Tutton and Tania Cook, sisters from Canada, enjoy drinks while listening to Sweet Fleet at My Hometown Fest on March 21.
  • March 21, 2026
My Hometown Fest event raises funds for kids with speech needs
4
Lakewood Ranch's Kathleen Flesch, Sonia Levy, Jane Imperiale and Peri Ann Aptaker dress for the Palm Royale-themed Divas and Dogs fundraiser that will benefit The Humane Society at Lakewood Ranch.
  • March 21, 2026
Divas and Dogs brings together fashion and animal lovers
5
Sarasota Crew's championship-winning Women's U16 Eight boat races past opponents at Nathan Benderson Park in June 2025. The USRowing Youth National Championships are one of the biggest events on the local sports calendar for 2026.
  • March 20, 2026
Watersports events line up at Benderson Park in April

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